Covid-19 has made us change many of the expectations we took for granted in medicine. One of them is the way we approach cancer treatments. Because of coronavirus quite rightly taking the lion’s share of resources, some cancer treatments, including … Read More
Covid-19 is causing lasting damage to sense of smell
Most of what we taste is triggered by what we smell, so when we lose our sense of smell food can be on the tasteless side. Indeed, there was an experiment I did as a medical student where my nose … Read More
Our test and trace system is a failure, warn experts
The headline published in the BMJ says it all. “Too slow and fundamentally flawed”. Our country’s test and trace programme is not fit for purpose, say public health experts. “I don’t believe the virus is under control, and I don’t … Read More
Track and trace is useless if we don’t pick up phone
The Government announced with fanfare and flourish that we’d have a world-beating test-track-trace programme up and running by June 1. Well, that date came and went, yet again a deadline missed through over-promising. The problem is no politician, and especially … Read More
As coronavirus eases, we must tackle the drinking crisis the pandemic made worse
Covid-19 isn’t kind to sufferers of certain medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. And along with the pressures we are all under, we can add alcohol to that list. The harm drink does to our … Read More
Dr Miriam Stoppard feared she would die after catching coronavirus due to lung condition
What I thought was a bad attack of flu at the beginning of February left me too weak to stand, let alone walk. When I did finally get out of bed I was as weak as a kitten and had … Read More
How I was laid low by coronavirus – and survived
I’m Covid positive! That means that I’ve had a coronavirus infection and survived because my body responded to Covid-19 by manufacturing antibodies. Antibodies that neutralised the virus. The antibody test I had wasn’t the prick test but the hardcore blood … Read More
Coronavirus can also harm heart and kidney function
Covid-19 is turning out to be a more complicated illness than we first thought – and not just a disease of the respiratory system and lungs. We’re also realising it can affect several of our major organs, including the kidneys … Read More
Vaccine hopes up and it’s vital we’re ready to roll it out
People keep asking me when I think a vaccine against coronavirus will be available. It’s the one breakthrough we’re waiting for to get life back to normal. It’s the magic word that puts us in control of the spread of Covid-19, … Read More
How to cope if someone if your house is suffering from coronavirus at home
Having someone in a family or shared home with Covid-19 poses big risks to other people living there. So are there any things you can do to curb the spread? Paul Little and colleagues from Southampton University offer some advice … Read More